DESE Names New Deputy Commissioner of Learning Services

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announces Kelli Jones will serve as the new deputy commissioner of the Division of Learning Services. Jones will assume this position on November 1, 2024, bringing to DESE more than two decades of education experience.

“Kelli brings a blend of vision, analytical skills, communication prowess, and enthusiasm for education,” said Commissioner of Education Karla Eslinger. “I am looking forward to working with such a dynamic leader!”

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is excited to announce that seven educators have advanced as finalists for the 2025 Missouri Teacher of the Year award.

The finalists are

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced the 16 Regional Teachers of the Year who have been selected as semi-finalists for the 2025 Missouri Teacher of the Year award. The Teacher of the Year program spotlights the positive impact excellent teachers have on their students.

The list of semi-finalists includes teachers from multiple grade levels, subject areas, and nearly every region of the state:

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is hosting an event with Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library team on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, at 11 a.m. in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will celebrate the success so far of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Missouri and encourage more Missouri families to enroll.

Six Pioneers in Education will be in the spotlight on Monday, July 29, in recognition of their commitment and contributions to public education in Missouri. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) will recognize the 2024 Pioneers during the 63^rd Annual Cooperative Conference for School Administrators. The ceremony will take place during a luncheon with more than 600 school leaders in attendance.

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has announced eight Missouri Gold Star Schools for 2024. The program, which aligns with the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, recognizes schools for outstanding academic achievement or for performing at high levels while serving a significant proportion of disadvantaged students.

Missouri’s 2024 Gold Star Schools include:

Three Missouri high school seniors were selected as members of the 60^th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars along with 158 additional students from across the country. The president recognized the outstanding students listed below for their accomplishments in academics, the arts, and career and technical education fields.

Today, Governor Michael L. Parson appointed two new members to the State Board of Education (State Board), Tawni Hunt Ferrarini, Ph.D. (St. Charles), and Thomas G. Prater, M.D. (Springfield). Dr. Ferrarini and Dr. Prater are now subject to confirmation by the Missouri Senate in the coming weeks.

“Tawni and Tom are clearly engaged in the education community and committed to serving others, so we look forward to welcoming them to the State Board and working with them to serve students, educators, and schools statewide,” said Commissioner of Education Margie Vandeven.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced today the school districts and individual school buildings that earned the 2024 Missouri Purple Star designation — the third round of designees in this statewide program:

2024 Purple Star School Districts

• Crocker R-II School District
• Warren Co. R-III School District

2024 Purple Star Schools

The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), in partnership with SAS, has launched the Missouri Data Visualization Tool (MO DVT), a web-based application that offers easy-to-use reports and analysis on academic performance, including achievement and growth data aggregated by subject, year, and grade. MO DVT was created in response to stakeholder questions about interpreting and using Missouri Growth Model data.